Free Republic

A downtown rally turned into violent clashes between protesters and Chicago police Saturday night, as the city’s top cop blamed “agitators” for “hijacking” the demonstration and protesters blamed officers for violating their rights and blocking their march, hitting them with batons. At least 17 officers were injured, including a cop repeatedly hit in the head with a skateboard and another officer who may have suffered a broken hand, according to Chicago police superintendent David Brown, who briefed reporters at CPD headquarters Saturday night.

Peter Whatley, professionally known as "Pistol" Pez Whatley, passed away yesterday at the age of 54 in his hometown Chatanooga, TN while hospitalized. Whatley had been in poor health in recent years, and was believed to have been waiting for a heart transplant. He had suffered a heart attack in January 2003 and also some kidney probles that led to a long hospitalization, but was said to have improved greatly over the last year. A native of Chattanooga, Whatley competed as an amateur wrestler for Notre Dame High School in his hometown and later for UTC in Chattanooga, TN. He...